How to Display Wetsuits

Once you open a scuba diving shop it's important to find creative ways to display your merchandise. For the wetsuits, hanging wall racks can showcase the different brands you carry. To draw customers toward the wetsuits, you can give the suit section a common theme with colorful graphics. In addition, you can create freestanding displays of wetsuits and dive accessories throughout the store.

Things You'll Need

  • List of major wetsuit brands
  • List of wetsuit types
  • Information and prices on mannequins
  • Information and prices on flexible mannequins
  • List of dive-related accessories for displays
  • List of live models for window displays
  • Advertising information and mailing list for fashion show
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Instructions

    • 1

      Display same-brand wetsuits together. As divers may be loyal to a major wetsuit brand, there is value in displaying all same-brand wetsuits together on racks. For example, a cold water diver might purchase a same-brand warm water suit for his next trip to the Caribbean. Different types of wetsuits include: warm water wetsuits; cold water wetsuits; dry suits, used for extremely cold water; triathlon suits; and wetsuits for other sports. To better serve your customers, educate yourself about the major wetsuit brands.

    • 2

      Exhibit similar-purpose suits together. Give divers without brand loyalty an opportunity to choose the best wetsuit for their needs. For example, grouping all cold water suits together allows the diver to choose the best combination of features for the price. Create colorful comparison charts to simplify the selection process.

    • 3

      Use mannequins to create life-size displays. Gather a group of male and female forms to display wetsuits throughout the store. Mix and match colors and styles, accessorize with hoods and dive boots, and add some underwater "scenery" such as faux sea fans and corals. Give divers a glimpse of the wetsuit on a "real" body.

    • 4

      Use flexible mannequins in kinetic displays. Flexible mannequins with movable limbs add the element of motion to your displays. For example, feature a male mannequin helping the female diver with her wetsuit; or show two mannequins walking to the shore dive site, their boots and hoods draped over their wetsuit-covered shoulders. Although the flexible mannequins are more expensive, they will add a new dimension to your exhibits.

    • 5

      Hire live models for window displays. Live model window displays have long been popular at major department stores and specialty shops. On high traffic days, hire some well-proportioned models to display a variety of wetsuits and accessories in your window. Give them free rein to create dive-related scenarios that illustrate the versatility of the wetsuits.

    • 6

      Schedule a wetsuit fashion show. Recruit male and female models with different body types, and suit them up in colorful wetsuits and accessories. Create a mini "water excursion" using either the latest wetsuits from each major brand or the newest wetsuits for specific types of water sports. Generate lots of "buzz" with advertising, customer contact and media exposure. Invite sports writers and accomplished area divers, and serve high energy snacks that divers and water sports enthusiasts might pack for the day.